The evening world., 1887-12-09
A Fuse Prepared for a Big Tank
With Tons Of Gum Cotton.
Soldiers on Guard We're Asleep, but "a
Child Gave the Alarm.
The Island Is Said TO BE the Most Strongly
Fortified Spot In the World, md is Stored
With Immense Supplies Of ammunition
Ifthe Plot Had Been Successful the Loss
of Life and Property Would Have Been
Appalling The Plotters of Destruction
Escape and There II No Clue to Them.
ESPECIAL TO THE woRLp.I

HALIFAX, N. s., Dec. 9.-Intense excite
ment prevails among the Imperial military
officers over what appears to be o deliberate
attempt last night to blow up the gun-cotton
tank at Georges Island.
Double guards are patrolling the fortifca-
tons, and ordersh have been given TO watch
all wharves for men attempting to land and
to search all vessels in the harbor. It has
been showing all night 30 that during the
hours of darkness ii was impossible to see
more than q few Yards ahead.
In the centre of Halifax Harbor stands
Georges Island. II is the most strongly fort
flied spot in the world; 1t not only commands
the city, but sweeps the entrance to the har-
Dor and northwest arm; it is not only the
Jaws of death, but also the mouth of hell to
any engine of war attempting'to enter Hal
flax.
1t is armed with 80 and 100 ton guns,
and upon 1t is stored the largest portion Of
the immense supplies of torpedoes, gun cot
ton, powder, shells and other ammunitions
of war for which Halifax is the depot for
North America. The island Is about an
acre in extent.
On its northeast shore is sunk a large tank,
III NV sohc Va Bun ooSsoh 40
enough to blow all Halifax to eternal
smash. No one is allowed upon or in the
vicinity of the island upon any pretext what
ever except that of duty.
In the midst of the snowstorm at 10 O'Clock
last night the little daughter of the sergeant
in charge thought she overheard men talking.
She went to the door of her quarters and,
standing upon the gun-cotton tank, she
heard three men talking. She called to
them. but they took no notice of her.
Then she raised an alarm. Som soldiers
were called out and rushed towards the tank.
The soldiers were some little distance of,
and hearing them coming, two of the men
jumped into a boat, whereupon the third
man shouted out Don't leave me in the
lurch after doing your dirty work." He
made a spring for the boat, got in, and they
got their boat several yards from the spot
before the soldiers reached the tank. A mo-
ment later the boat was hidden by the falling
snow. The soldiers being reused out of bed,
hadn't their rifles with them, and conse-
quently could not bring the intruders to
terms.
An alarm was Immediately raised and the
information conveyed to Gen. Lord Alexan-
der Russell and staff. Gen. Russell ordered
all the wharves to be guarded. all vessels
searched and double guards to patrol the
island all night. A special guard is also sta
toned at the gun-cotton tank.
1t is believed that the object of the men
was to bore an anger hole through the cover
of the gun-cotton tank and insert a fuse.
Ifthis had been accomplished, not only
: Georges Island, with its magnificent FORTH
cations, but all the ships in the harbor and
two-thirds of Halifax Harbor must have been
destroyed. 1t would have been the most
tremendous and terrible explosion of modern
times, while the loss of life would have been
appalling.
There is not the slightest clue to the men
who originated or attempted to carry out the
plot. Their plans had been carefully pre-.
pared and escape was easy. Nor is there any
satisfactory explanation of the motive for an
attack which, if successful, surely meant
death to hundreds of people and i~ncaloulable
loss to property.
Another thing that people hereabouts would
like to have explained is how the men even
approached-much less obtained a ~foothold-
on the Island without attracting the attention
of the guard. 1t is dreadful to think of what
might have happened but for the watchful
ness of the S~ergeant's little daughter. She
is the heroine of the hour.
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